Shoe-lace fastener.



No. 755,030. I PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. G. F. MIBRS.

SHOE LACE FASTENER. APPLICATION. FILED HA3. 5. 1903.

H0 MODEL.

Patented. March 22, 1904.

ATENT OFFICE.

- CHARLES FULLER MIERS, OF AGER, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER- vSI-ECIFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No.'7 55,030, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed March 5, 1903.

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shoe-lace fasteners; and it has for its objectto provide a fastener in the form of a hook having a stem for engagementwith the shoe, and which fastener is provided with wedge-shapedrecesses, with which the lace may be engaged to hold it securely inproper position.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fastening embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing the blank from which thefastening is formed, the lines of fold of the wings being indicated indotted lines. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the fastening. Fig. Ais aside elevation showing the shoe-lace engaged.

Referring now to the drawings, the present fastening, which is in theform of a hook, includes a hollow or tubular stem 5, at the upper end ofwhich is a continuous radiating flange 6, which at one side of the stemis ex tended in the form of a flat finger or plate 7, which is bent uponitself to form the bill 8 of the hook, which extends back over andslightly beyond the tubular stem in a direction divergent to theattached end portion of the finger, as illustrated.

At the end or bight portion 9 of the hook the metal is formed roundingor in the form of a cylinder divided in the plane of itsaxis. The edgesof the flange 6 at the sides of the stem are bent upwardly at rightangles to the remaining portion of the flange and to the bill of thehook, beneath which latter they lie, and these upturned portions of theflanges form arc-shaped webs, between which and the bill of the hook arenarrowed throats 10 Serial No. 146,409. (No model.)

which lead to that portion of the inclosure of the hook adjacent to thebight of the latter.

To attach the hook to the material of the shoe, the tubular stem isforced through the material of the shoe or engaged with apreviously-formed perforation therein, after which the lower end of thestem is flared or riveted in the usual manner.

In the use of the hook or fastening the shoelace is moved laterally intoengagement with the hook between the bill and the webs therebelow and ismoved beyond the narrowed portions of the throats and into the sockettherebeyond, the dimensions of the socket portions being such that thelace is firmly wedged therein, it being noted that in order for the laceto move out of the socket portion it must pass through the narrowedportions of the throats, which it cannot do without being subjected tostrain.

It will be noted from the above description that there is provided ahook or fastening which may be manufactured at an extremely low price,which may be easily formed by automatic machinery, and which iselficient in its operation.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a stem having ahook projecting therefrom and lying with its bill transversely above thestem, and arc-shaped webs projecting upwardly from the stem, toward andbeneath the bill.

2. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a stem having a continuous flange atone end, said flange at one side of the stem being continued to form thelower member of a hook lying with its bill above and transversely of thestem, the flange radiating from the stem and the sides of the radiatingportions being bent upwardly in the direction of the bill of the hookand forming thereby arc-shapedwebs projecting from the stem which lie inspaced relation with the said bill of the hook.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FULLER MIERS. Witnesses:

E. W. NoLAN, GEO. D. BUTLER.

